You know, other than e-mail, that counts. I meant to have added that to my question. Just so there is an acknowledgment of gratitude. :) I don't like e-mail but it is better than nothing :) Good job mom, you got it!

Well, I haven't had my baby yet, but when I do...Yes she will....When I was 2 yrs old, my mom would hold my hand with a crayon in it and make me write thank you notes..so yes..my child will to. I also write thank you notes and if i give someone something for wedding or baby shower, and I do not receive a thank you, they do not have to worry about me buying for them again! I do not owe anyone anything!

Right Rdnewman? :) My mom always made us thank people. We are not entitled to anything that folks give us just because THEY are kind! However, for the record, I lost my list of 'thank you notes still need to be written' in a move soon after my daughter's birth. She was early, soon after my shower. AND I FEEL TERRIBLE. I can't remember everyone on it! So, just think of the idiots like me out there who very much so wanted to thank but lost the stupid list :) I do try to let everyone know what happened so that they know I AM JUST AN IDIOT BUT I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THEY REMEMBERED US! :) Urgh! Isn't it surprising though how many people don't value something as essential as this? Kinda blows me away! It is the simplest of rules, if someone does something kind for you, you need to say thank you.

Wow, 25% said, no, never and you think thanking people for their kindness is "so 1800's"? I have to ask what the age is in this group and how they came to be so self-centered? I am 50 yrs. old, my DD is almost 26. I taught her since she was able to write her name, to send thank-you notes for every gift she received. If someone took the time to spend money on you, cared enough about you to honor you with a gift or a kindness, the least you can do is write a simple thank-you. When she was able to write her name, I wrote the thank-you and she wrote her name. Before that, she drew a picture or scribbled. Being grateful is not from the 1800's, it says you appreciate that someone cares about you and that you value that person. Not thanking someone says that you expect the gift or kindness, whether you have earned it or not.

Like someone else said, beginning last year I decided i had, had enough with ungrateful recipients. I purged all self-centered people from my gifts/cards list, and, I feel much better now!

I make my step-daughter write them if someone gives her a gift and they are not at the party to see her open it so she can thank them in person. If not then I call them and put her on the phone. Its just common courtesy in my opinion.

It's all a matter of how important manners are to you. If they are able to write, why wouldn't a parent spend the whoe 15 minutes it would take to do it? Children aren't born rude, disrespectful, or inconsiderate, yet so many are. How did they get that way? My mom had me do it when I was a little girl, and it stayed with me, and now I passed that on to my kids. if they ask why, I just tell them it's a small gesture to show your appreciation for someone who took the time to shop, pay, wrap, and deliver your gift.